The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-21

MIJ5iJSIrfs Itivr-, T@TS DORiN0 WAR TIME
Old Photograph.
position with 40 little resistance, the opin.
ion came to prevail throughout the Federal
army that Vicksburg would yield without
further resistance. Filled with this idea
the Union forces confidently approached
the outworks of Vicksburg on the morning
OF May 10, but found the Confederates
without these in line Of battle. They soon
retired, however, and meantime the Fed
erals, by this time convinced that the foe
in front intended to fight approached cav.
tiously but determinately
The division established it's hospital
about four miles from tho Confederate
works at the house OF a man named SWEET.
The house was built mainly OF logs in the
center of a large yard that sloped down In
nearly every direction.
Every thing was got in readiness at the
hospital to receive the wounded. The sur.
geons had their instruments all ready for
use; long, bright, razor-edged knives for
cutting through fleshy parts in amputa-
tons and sharp-toothed, shining saws for
saving bona. Then there were strong for.
ceps for extracting bullets, bone pliers for
shipping off ia ,ged ends Of bono and tour.
nquets for ARE sting hemorrhage.
Sponges for washing wounds and lint
and bandageS for dressing them were in
plentiful supply.
Among the more prominent drugs were
morphine, for alternating pain, chloroform
and ether for producing daes'hesta Qnsensi-
blity to sufferng), brandy, wine, whisky
and qulnne forexhaustion, and perchloride
of iron, apowerful styptic, to stop bleeding.
To be used in the way OF nourishment
there were beef essences, condensed milk,
strong coffee, beef soup, broths, crackers,
etc, etc.
The yard at SWEETS was filled with shade
trees, and under these it was proposed to
put the wounded. Ambuances were sent
TO the front and every thing was IN readi-
ness at the hospital to make as comfortable
as possible the injured. Towards noon the
writer went forward couple OF miles;
since eight o'clock there had been firing,
and this grew heavier and heavier as the
day advanced. AS yet, however, there
was but little in the immediate front, but
nearly all was to the right Sherman with
the Fifteenth Corps was on the extreme
right, Mcpherson Seventeenth Corps)
was in the center and McClernand CThir-
teenth Corps) was on the left.
At noon the firing to the right became
very uedNy, Llc uuuShctiy "oS ASocosAs
and this was very frequently punctuated
with the boom of cannon. Gradually the
incessant report Of musketry and frequent
boom Of cannon crept round TO the left, and
in the afternoon the whole line was en-
gagged. Toward evening the ambulances
commenced coming in loaded with the
wounded. These poor fellows had to be
lifted carefully from the ambulances and
laid around upon the ground till the sur
geons could examine and care for their in
juries. Two or three operating tables had
been extemporizei with boards; at each OF
these surgeons were soon busily at work
amputating legs and arms, probing wounds
and otherwise operating upon the injured.
The great majority of injuries came from
musket balls, a few came from pieces OF
shell, aud occasionally one from grape
shot
Nearly all were perforating wounds,
though occasionally only brufse was found
and this usually came from piece OF
she'll Where bones Of extremities were
seriously injured amputations were near
Is always resorted TO. Il che case Of the